DANIEL BOWEN'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN FLEETWOOD AND BLACKPOOL LEAD TO RE-IMPRISONMENT

In September 2015, the case of Daniel Bowen, a man with a disturbing criminal history involving heinous offenses against children, took a significant turn as he was once again placed behind bars. Bowen, aged 39 and residing on Warrenhurst Road in Fleetwood, had previously served a six-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting two young girls, one of whom became pregnant as a result of his abuse. Despite his early release, Bowen’s criminal activities did not cease, leading to his re-arrest and subsequent return to incarceration.

Bowen’s initial conviction in 2009 involved four counts of rape, three of which were related to a single girl he assaulted multiple times between the ages of 11 and 13. The court heard that he had pleaded guilty to these charges, which underscored the severity of his crimes. His actions during that period marked him as a profoundly dangerous individual, and the judge at the time described him as a “dangerous offender,” emphasizing that there were few cases worse than his.

Following his release from prison after serving approximately half of his original 12-year sentence, Bowen was subjected to an extended license period of eight years, bringing his total potential incarceration to 20 years. His release was contingent upon strict conditions, including a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), designed to prevent any further offending. Bowen initially moved from a hostel in Blackburn to Fleetwood, where he was under supervision.

However, his freedom was short-lived. Bowen was caught breaching the terms of his SOPO when a probation officer discovered messages on his phone during a routine check. The messages, which were sent via Facebook to a 10-year-old boy, constituted a clear violation of the restrictions imposed to safeguard children. The Blackpool magistrates heard that Bowen admitted to the breach, and as a result, he was ordered to return to prison to serve out the remainder of his sentence. Prosecutor Pam Smith confirmed that Bowen would be recalled to custody to complete his original 12-year term.

During the hearing, Bowen’s defense attorney, Patrick Nelligan, explained that the breach occurred during a period when Bowen was feeling extremely lonely. He argued that if Bowen had fully understood the sinister nature of his violation, he would have deleted the message from his phone. Despite this explanation, the court decided to add an additional 21 days to Bowen’s custody period.

Blackpool magistrates emphasized the gravity of Bowen’s actions, with the judge describing him as a “dangerous” individual whose crimes had long-lasting and devastating effects. The case drew strong comments from law enforcement officials, including Detective Inspector Tony Baxter of Lancashire Police’s public protection unit, who stated, “This is one of the worst cases I’ve seen in all the years I’ve been doing this kind of work.”

In the aftermath of his initial release, Bowen’s case remains a stark reminder of the importance of strict supervision and the ongoing risks posed by convicted sex offenders. His case continues to evoke concern about the safety of children and the effectiveness of the measures in place to prevent re-offending.